-PTI   Guwahati: Ecological degradation of Deepor Beel, a freshwater lake of international importance on the outskirts of Guwahati, has turned out to be a major electoral issue for hundreds of fishermen and farmers dependent on the wetland. Spread over an area of 40.1 sq km, the lake, which is listed in the Ramsar Convention, supports livelihood of over 1,200 families living in 12 villages around it. fishermen complain that the fish output...

-PTI NEW DELHI: With proceedings in parliament remaining disrupted, the government was unable to introduce the street vendors bill - a pet legislation of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi - in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday when opposition MPs objected to introducing bills in the din. The upper house, which witnessed repeated adjournments, met at 2pm still amid din when Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas sought the permission of...

-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: The government on Friday introduced the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill in Rajya Sabha, seeking to increase reservation for disabled persons in public sector jobs from the existing 3% to 5% and reserve seats for them in higher education institutions. Persons with disabilities under the proposed legislation -- which also seeks to broaden the ambit of disability from seven to 19 sub-categories -- will, however,...

-Press Information Bureau Preliminary Transcript of the Q&A portion of the Prime Minister's Press Conference at the National Media Centre, New Delhi Q: After the Assembly elections, much churning is going on in the UPA. Do you think the Congress should now announce its PM candidate? PM: The Congress President has already answered that question. We will announce our candidate for the Prime Ministership at the appropriate time. Q: On corruption issues which have...

-Outlook Srikakulam: Activist Medha Patkar has opposed a nuclear power plant coming up at Kovvada village in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. "After the Fukushima incident, there is a largescale opposition to nuclear power but the Government of India is still pushing the project, apparently under the pressure of the US," alleged Patkar, convener of the National Alliance of People's Movement. She was addressing a meeting of local fishermen who are opposing the...